Fleeing Roswell (AU, CC, TEEN)

[KatnotKath]

OOC: hoping this gets me back up to date. sorry for the delay, hope this works for people.

~LIz~

Before Michael has a chance to respond, suddenly Max drops down onto the floor, being sick, and without hesitating and kneel down beside him. Seeing him like this tears into my heart, but I’m going to be there for him, however little is it…

Michael’s joined me, but I hardly even realise, concentrating my efforts on doing anything I can to make Max feel better.

“No…Let Liz stay with me. We’ll ride with Kyle…”

I look down at him, hearing his words and nod, reaching to help him up again. “I’m not going anywhere…I promise…” I tell him softly, almost challenging Michael with my eyes to say otherwise. I won’t leave him…I just won’t…

Michael doesn’t…although he does insist he’s not leaving Max alone, deciding now that Kyle should ride with Maria…

I wonder about pointing out the fact that it makes no more sense than me riding with Kyle, still leaving two people without powers alone, but in truth my attention is focused on Max for the moment, noting how pale he looks, and continuing to worry about what he has been through… “It’s going to be alright…” I say, as much for myself as anyone else, as he continues to lean against me.

I can feel more of his weight falling onto me as such, and it doesn’t take much to read between the lines as he tells Michael we have to go. He’s dead on his feet virtually, probably using his last bit of energy to stand up, and being sick just now isn’t going to have helped…

Michael helps him into the car, and as Max settles himself, I slip in next to him, whispering what reassurances I can, and reaching to push some hair which has fallen into his eyes away from his face as he lays his head in my lap.

Looking over briefly, I see Michael talking to Maria, but my attention is focused on something else… I run my fingers through his hair slowly, almost as though trying to reassure myself he’s there, and dip my head to kiss his forehead, and tell him again it’s going to be alright. “I’m right here Max…I’m not going anywhere, and we’re going to be okay…”

“I’m so tired…”

I nod. “I know…you just sleep…it’ll be okay…” I repeat my reassurances.

“Don’t let them fight… Just get the others and go. Anywhere away from here… Will you do that…?”

I look down, nodding to reassure him, opening my mouth to do the same, but I see that it’s unnecessary… Already he’s fast asleep, I can only hope these dreams are more peaceful than they looked earlier…

Michael climbs into the car, and I look up slightly, although only for a moment, as he says we’re ready, and starts the engine. Once we’re on the road again though, my gaze once more drifts back down, focusing on the dark head of hair that’s lying on my lap. What did he go through…I only wish I knew how I could do more to help…

[isabelle]

*Kyle*

I can't believe this. She's still play games, keeping secrets. This is unbelieveable.

"Maria, I just threw my whole life away. My football scholarship. Everything. That freak of a boyfriend of yours is driving my car! And you still won't tell me what's going on!"

[Roswell4ever1]

~Maria~

Oh Michael's not gonna like this but I can't keep lying to Kyle. It's just not me. Besides, I suck at keeping secrets. Oh please God don't let Michael kill me.

"You promise you won't freak out?" I asked Kyle, looking at him briefly. The look on his face told me very clearly that he wasn't about to promise that. I knew he wouldn't. I may be blonde, but I'm not stupid.

Letting out a deep breathe, I began. "Well you see, Michael, Max, Isabel and Tess aren't from around here." I tried to leave it at that, but looking at him again, I knew better. He sure wasn't one for patience.

"They're not...they're not human Kyle."

[isabelle]

*Kyle*

"Not human?" I repeat. My tone is part-mocking/part-offended. "Look, I know we were both in remedial biology but even I can recognise a human. Mammal, primate, all that?" I say.

She looks like she's about to argue and I put up my hands to stop her. "And you better not be going on some stupid 'alien' trip. I know your mom sells the stuff but I didn't think you were one of the 'true-believer' nuts."

I"m pretty sure Ms. Deluca doesn't believe it either. She's just making a living, just like Mr. Parker, afterall...


*~*~*~*~*~*

*Michael*

We head off towards the truck stop and I keep glancing in the rear-view mirror to be sure Maria's still back there with Kyle. I don't like her alone, but at least I know the FBI isn't really after her.

Well, okay, they're after her, but they're not looking to slice-n-dice. She and Kyle are a little safer than Max.

Liz is sitting without speaking, stroking Max's hair. There's really nothing to say. I just hope this doesn't come back to bite us all in the ass, later.

"Is he asleep?" I ask quietly, hoping I won't wake him if he is.

[Roswell4ever1]

~Maria~

"Ugh, why do I even bother?" I ask in a raised voice as I throw my left arm up in the air. I take a minute to try to gather my thoughts before continuing on.

"Why would I lie about something like that Kyle? Look, you remember the shooting at the Crashdown? Explain how the bullet that went through Liz's stomach mysteriously disappeared if it wasn't true. Explain that Kyle."

I was beyond aggrivated. We were going out of our way and putting ourselves at risk by having him come with us and he treats me like I'm some lunatic. Who the hell does he think he is anyway?

[isabelle]

*Kyle*

She's serious. I can't believe it. My grandfather was a loonie believer and now I'm running away from Roswell with a whole team of them, and the FBI after us, too.

Although, acutally, that would explain the FBI...

"She told me that the bullet missed her. That she spilled ketchup on herself. What are you saying now? She was shot and then she was fine ten minutes later when my dad got there? Did Evans do something to her?"

[Roswell4ever1]

~Maria~

"Yes Kyle, Liz was shot. In the stomach. She almost died and if Max hadn't saved her, she would have. Why do you think she had that silver handprint on her stomach? I know you saw it, she told me you did." I looked at him for a minute guaging his reaction.

"Yes, Max did something to her. He saved her life."

[isabelle]

*Kyle*

Yeah, I remember that silver handprint. I thought it was weird, but I never guessed it was something that weird. Max actually healed her and told her he was an alien. No wonder she was so strange about him.

"So Max is an alien and he can heal people," I said. Somehow, I needed to say it alloud just to hear it. Just to see that Maria didn't suddenly deny it. And she's not. She just nods slowly, glancing at me from the corner of her eyes.

"Wait. Wait a minute," I say, waving my hands in the air. "If Max can heal bullet wounds, why didn't he help my father? Come to think of it, why does he look like he's been run over by a truck? Can't he use his power on himself?"

[Roswell4ever1]

~Maria~

"He would have been able to if the FBI hadn't gotten a hold of him. None of us know what all happened in that room but whatever they did to him, it was bad. He's weak. His powers can't work if he has no energy to use them." I take a deep breath and wipe a stray tear away.

"He would have saved your dad if he could have Kyle. But he couldn't."

[isabelle]

*Kyle*

At first, I'm not sure what Maria's saying. 'That room?' But then I pick out the facts in the rest of her blather. The FBI caught Max in a room and hurt him. Man. Visions of alien autopies cross my mind and I realize he's lucky to be alive.

"My dad got him out? He busted into an FBI facility?" That's how he got shot, I realize. For a second, I feel my teeth clenching. Dad shoulda left him there. Then he'd be safe and Liz would be free of him. Then she and I could --

No. That's not going to help. But he's a real alien. That's so incredible. My grandfather was right, afterall...

"What about Isabel? Is she -- like that too?"